Jess Duff is entering her second season as assistant
women’s basketball coach at UMass Boston. She also
serves as an assistant coach with the Beacons volleyball team, and
is responsible for the recruitment of players for both squads.

A standout member of the women’s basketball and volleyball
teams at Wellesley College, Duff received multiple All-Conference,
All-Region, and All-America honors while with the Blue. A
four-year member of both teams, Duff was named a three-time team
MVP, a two-time captain, a two-time New England Women’s and
Men’s Athletic (NEWMAC) All-Conference selection, and was
named to the New England Women’s Basketball Association
(NEWBA) Senior All-Star game in 2009. She also earned
multiple All-Tournament selections during her career as well.

With the volleyball team, Duff closed out her career as one of
the top players to ever compete at Wellesley. A 2009 American
Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American, Duff also
garnered New England Women’s Volleyball Association (NEWVA)
and AVCA All-Region accolades, and multiple NEWMAC honors. In
2007, she led the Blue to a NEWMAC tournament title, while in 2008
she led Wellesley to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA
Division III volleyball tournament. A year later she was
named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team.

Off the hardwood, Duff was a member of the Wellesley College
Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) and served as the groups
Chair of Unity Committee. In March of 2009 she participated
in the NCAA Women’s Leadership Symposium in Boston.
During the symposium, Duff participated in workshops that focused
on team philosophies and values, leadership styles, Title IX,
communication strategies and diversity.

Duff graduated from Wellesley in 2009 with her bachelor’s
in Women’s Studies. She recently earned her
master’s degree in Education from Tufts University.
While with the Jumbos, Duff also served as the assistant
women’s basketball coach and was responsible for the
recruitment of student-athletes, film breakdown and played a major
part in helping Tufts to two NCAA tournament appearances and a 62-9
record during her three seasons in Medford.